I had an AuthenTec fingerprint scanner in an old HP laptop before I got my MBP. It worked I guess, but it seemed gimmicky and I never used it. I'm hoping Apple has something more interesting planned than just a fingerprint unlock.
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AuthenTec Said to Cut Off Non-Apple Fingerprint Sensor Customers in 2013
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Iconoclysm
macrumors 68040
Remember how long it took for PA semiconductor to make a completely new ARM core? Like, from 2007ish until last week? None of the companies you listed produce this type of sensor, which is why Apple is buying them.
I'm sure we'll see something from the liquid metal acquisition one day since it seems Apple likes to buy up firms that are on to something but not yet ready to produce.
BeyondtheTech
macrumors 68020
Wow, the nerd that you all bullied in grade school is now kicking ass and taking names. Apple has never had a real lead in the enterprise, except with the new BYOD concept, but if all their products go uber-secure, they could really have a big stake in the future of office computing, even if it's because everyone has to pay up to license their technology.
Mr. Retrofire
macrumors 603
And fingerprints are not secure. They are everywhere without control. And AuthenTec has obvious security problems:
http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/09/06/fingerprint-scanner-security-warning/
Iconoclysm
macrumors 68040
I seriously doubt Apple is ever going to take aim at the Enterprise again - their own company probably wouldn't fit into a standard Enterprise model, unlike Microsoft who have become more and more like an IBM.
Mr. Retrofire
macrumors 603
Exactly. We are not talking about your standard finger print scanner rather one BUILT INTO the touchscreen/pad.
Iconoclysm
macrumors 68040
The sensors that Apple were supposedly looking at do not read surface layer fingerprints...these UPEK readers are not the same.
Not to mention, this article refers to a software problem.
The only reason it makes sense to dump all your customers on acquisition is if someone is planning some anti-competitive nonsense.
This is not normal business behavior.
This is not normal business behavior.
My knowledge of this tech is very limited. But I suspect that for what these sensors are typically used in laptops/phones, any sensor will do 😛
Mr. Retrofire
macrumors 603
Iconoclysm
macrumors 68040
mdelvecchio
macrumors 68040
wait...what? are you saying they shouldnt acquire talent because their competitors will then have more work to do?
They are winning again but Monopoly isn't just a game
do you know what a monopoly is? apple products have so much market share competition its not even funny. Google, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, RIM, Amazon, Microsoft, etc....take your pick. monopoly it aint.
Iconoclysm
macrumors 68040
Not worth the effort
I've had fingerprint scanners on 4 different brands of PC's and the problems getting the readers to work wasn't worth the efforts and I ended up using the old password logins. It seemed that it took multiple swipes on multiple fingers to get a good reading and half the time I had to rescan the fingers in the set up to get them to work at all.
I've had fingerprint scanners on 4 different brands of PC's and the problems getting the readers to work wasn't worth the efforts and I ended up using the old password logins. It seemed that it took multiple swipes on multiple fingers to get a good reading and half the time I had to rescan the fingers in the set up to get them to work at all.
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Mr. Retrofire
macrumors 603
They showed, that they are not able to manage a process, and this process is: Security.
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No.
mdelvecchio
macrumors 68040
you dudes dont understand how this works. tech is not a commodity -- me owning some doesnt prevent you from developing your own.
Iconoclysm
macrumors 68040
Actually, it's probably more likely that this company can't make enough parts for Apple and all of those other companies...let alone that Apple doesn't want to provide products that it makes to other companies.
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Oh really, no? Are you going to grab the prints from beneath the skin with magic?
Otherwise, that process has nothing to do with fingerprint scanners themselves.
SteveAbootman
macrumors 6502a
Annnnnd the Goliath that is Apple gobbles up another company again to "incorporate" their innovation with total disregard of the consequences of what it will do to the world.
They are winning again but Monopoly isn't just a game
Might want to do some research before spouting off some anti-apple rhetoric.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/17/3322854/google-startup-mergers-acquisitions-failure-is-a-feature
Iconoclysm
macrumors 68040
This discussion came up here before, and someone brought up his father's calloused hands not working with fingerprint scanners. This new technology reads beneath the skin, so if you've got worn hands you can still use it. Also, because it doesn't require the same sort of contact, a layer of glass in between might be possible but I'm not going to start speculating there.
Nungster
macrumors regular
When you first set up your identity on one of these devices, you scan multiple fingers from both hands.
I use this now on my Windows 7 Laptop.